Earlier this month, I traveled to Atlanta, Georgia, to attend the 121st
Annual Meeting of our accrediting body, the Southern Association of
Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC). The theme of this
year’s meeting, held December 3-6, was “Higher Education at the
Crossroads: Pathways to Equity and Excellence.”
The meeting
addressed various higher education accreditation practices and offered
much topical discussion on the development and implementation of
activities that enhance teaching and learning and support administrative
operations. Dynamic speakers, peer-led sessions, engaging exhibitors,
and numerous networking opportunities were also highlights of the
conference.
Our own Virginia Wesleyan College Board of Trustees
member Dr. Linda Thomas-Glover moderated a President’s Day session
featuring CNN Political Analyst Dr. Larry Sabato. I had the distinct
pleasure of visiting with Dr. Sabato, a native of Norfolk and the
Founder and Director of the University of Virginia Center for Politics.
Overall,
the meeting served as a wonderful conclusion to our very productive
year with SACSCOC. As you know, Virginia Wesleyan received its 10-year
reaffirmation of accreditation with no recommendations and no required
follow-up reports—an incredible vote of confidence in our institution.
And as I shared yesterday, the College was recently approved as a Level
III institution, enabling us to add master’s degrees to our academic
program.
Special thanks to each of you, our broader Virginia
Wesleyan College community, for your daily work on behalf of this
outstanding College and our students. Your efforts make Virginia
Wesleyan shine bright, as a beacon for the liberal arts in the 21st
century.
